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Friday, May 22, 2015

Sarah Dessen: 'Saint Anything' Last Novel For A While..

The name Sarah Dessen has become synonymous with Young Adult
contemporary fiction, and when you look back at her body of work—and the
more than 9.8 million copies of her titles in print—it makes sense why.

Dessen is back again with her 12th novel, Saint AnythingThe Book is Sarah Dessen’s deepest and most psychologically
probing novel yet, telling an engrossing story of a girl discovering
friendship, love, and herself.

Dessen talks to EW about writing book 12 and her next project—which could be a ways away..

"I’m trying not to start another book out of panic and fear. In the midst of all the revisions on Saint Anything,
I cleaned out my attic. I found all these manuscripts that I had
started and set aside. I think it was either 13 or 14 books piled in my
driveway, each one with a sticky note on them with the narrator’s name.
And I was like wow. That’s what made me change the way that I’m doing
this. I have 12 books published and 13 that didn’t make it. There’s got
to be a better way to do this. So I’m trying to hold off until I have a
really great idea that I’m really inspired by. That’s the other nice
thing about being at 12 books. You can slow down a little bit. I
was always racing so hard. I wanted to stay ahead of the pack. I really
like this book. So I feel like if this is the last book from me for a
little while, then that’s a good place to be. " states Sarah.Plot Synopsis:

Sydney has always felt invisible.

She's grown accustomed
to her brother, Peyton, being the focus of the family’s attention and,
lately, concern. Peyton is handsome and charismatic, but seems bent on
self-destruction. Now, after a drunk-driving accident that crippled a
boy, Peyton’s serving some serious jail time, and Sydney is on her own,
questioning her place in the family and the world.

Then she
meets the Chatham family. Drawn into their warm, chaotic circle, Sydney
experiences unquestioning acceptance for the first time. There’s
effervescent Layla, who constantly falls for the wrong guy, Rosie, who’s
had her own fall from grace, and Mrs. Chatham, who even though ailing
is the heart of the family. But it’s with older brother Mac—quiet,
watchful, and protective—that Sydney finally feels seen, really seen, at
last.